Operas Inspired by Flowers

Spring finally seems to have arrived with an abundance of flowers. In the old poem, it's April showers that bring May flowers. But in opera, flowers pop up for a variety of reasons, and not all of them are pretty. While operatic flowers can be enjoyed for their beauty, their allure can also spell trouble. ​

Carmen - "La fleur que tu m'avais

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Composer:Georges BizetLibretto:Henri Meilhac, Ludovic HalévyYear: 1875In Bizet’s Carmen, a single flower signals tragedy. In the “Flower Song,” Don José recalls falling in love with Carmen. But the once sweet-smelling flower she gave him has withered, and so have his amorous feelings.

Lakmé - "Sous le dôme épais"

Composer:Léo DelibesLibretto:Philippe Gille, Edmond GondinetYear: 1883In the first act of Léo Delibes’ Lakmé, the title character and her servant collect blue lotuses at the river’s edge in this lovely “Flower Duet.” But at the end of the opera, Lakmé chooses her own fate by eating the deadly datura flower. This music has won many new fans through its use in British Airways ads.

Der Rosenkavalier - "Mir ist die Ehre

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Composer:Richard StraussLibretto:Hugo von HofmannsthalYear:1910​In Act 2 of Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, Octavian is dispatched as the knight of the rose (Rosenkavalier), delivering a silver flower to Sophie on behalf of her betrothed, Baron Ochs. Little does Octavian know that by the end of the opera, Sophie will be in his arms. ​

Adriana Lecouvreur - "Poveri fiori"

Composer:Francesco CileaLibretto:Arturo ColauttiYear:1902Violets get passed around in Franceso Cilea’s melodramatic love triangle Adriana Lecouvreur, first as a sweet memento between Adriana and the man she desires. Then he gives the bouquet to an admirer who secretly poisons the flowers, making sure they get back to Adriana. In the aria “Poveri fiori” (Poor little flowers), Adriana inhales their deadly scent and dies.